Mercedes Formula One team boss Toto Wolff says the team's biggest weakness is the sometimes fractious relationship between world champion Lewis Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg.
In an interview with Motorsport.com published on Wednesday, Wolff suggested Mercedes would consider changing its driver line-up if relationship strains affected the team.
Following differences this season, which continued in Sunday's season finale in Abu Dhabi, Wolff said "having always one (driver) upset" was something that "spills over into the team" and "needs to stop".
"We took the decision of having two evenly matched drivers in order to make the team progress faster and better. It was a very conscious decision three years ago.
"Going forward, we will consider if it is the best set-up for the team. Personality and character within the team is a crucial ingredient for the team success.
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"If we feel that it is not aligned with the general consensus, spirit and philosophy within the team, we might consider that when we take a decision, in terms of the driver line-up going forward."
Hamilton this year signed a three-year extension to his contract until the end of 2018, while Rosberg's contract ends after next season.
"There is lots going on behind closed doors," Wolff said.
"I feel that the team is stronger than ever. We are having huge unity within the team, but the difficult relationship of the drivers is one of our weaknesses. And that is not good."
The team's "biggest strength is the quality and the characters of the personalities within the team", but "the biggest weakness is the dynamic of the relationship between the drivers - and sometimes between the drivers and the team", he said.
